Lionel Messi was very angry after Inter Miami’s first MLS game, and he was seen pulling a New York City FC coach by the neck. There were also shocking scenes of the Argentine getting angry at the referee. Last year, Miami won the Eastern Conference. However, they had a disappointing fall in the first round of the playoffs, as Atlanta United beat them.
To try to do even better this time, Messi and his team played New York to start the new season, but they were only able to draw 2-2. Tomas Aviles gave the Florida-based team the lead in the seventh minute, but 16 minutes later, a defender was sent off, and they had to play most of the game with only 10 players. The game changed when someone got a red card. Mitja Ilenic and Alonso Martinez scored goals for New York to turn things around.
Still, Miami wouldn’t give up, and Telasco Segovia tied the game in the 100th minute. Messi had another great game as well. He set up both of his team’s goals and showed why he was thought to be the best football player of all time. But he wasn’t happy when the game was over, which led to the scenes that opened people’s eyes.
Messi Angrily Confronted the Referee at Full Time
He then got into it with a New York coach
When Miami scored a goal in the last minute, they were happy, but things might have been different if they hadn’t been down to 10 players so early in the game. Messi wasn’t happy about it. He was also quick to tell judge Rosendo Mendoza how he felt when he talked to him after the game. After yelling at the referee and getting in his face, the Argentine player got a yellow card for his trouble.
Messi started to leave the pitch after saying what he had to say, but got into another fight, this time with Mehdi Ballouchy, an assistant coach for the NYCFC. There was a heated argument when the former MLS player seemed to say something to the 37-year-old as he passed. Some Inter Miami staff members stood between them, but Messi came back and grabbed Ballouchy by the neck.
🚨 Lionel Messi ended up furious with the referee after the controversial Inter Miami vs. New York match, which ended 2-2.
The Herons had to play over an hour with one player less.#MLS #Messi pic.twitter.com/wSGhtrZuuA
— MARCA in English 🇺🇸 (@MARCAinENGLISH) February 23, 2025
At this point, it’s not clear what was said that made the former Barcelona player respond that way.
Messi was given a fine for his behaviour.
MLS has put out a message.
The Major League Soccer (MLS) did notice what Messi did. There was a statement from them stating that Messi was fined an unknown amount for his behaviour after the game. CNN says this is what their message said:
A fine of an unknown amount was given to Inter Miami CF forward Lionel Messi for breaking the rules about touching an opponent in the face, head, or neck after Inter Miami’s game against New York City FC on February 22.
Messi wasn’t the only Inter Miami player who got in trouble after the game. Luis Suarez was also given a fine for getting the back of New York City defender Birk Risa’s neck at the end of the first half, but the number was not made public.
